Planned Parenthood Statement on March for Life 

New York, NY –– Today is the annual March for Life, a demonstration by those opposed to safe and legal abortion. This year’s theme claims that science supports opposition to safe and legal abortion. 

Statement from Dr. Leana Wen, President, Planned Parenthood Federation of America:

As a doctor, I believe in providing my patients with accurate, evidence-based information they need to make the best decisions for themselves and their health. It’s not my right — or anyone’s right — to shame, judge and impose my personal views on patients. I trust my patients to choose what is best for their health.

“Reproductive health care should be treated no differently from any other aspect of health care. All patients should receive education on and access to the full spectrum of reproductive health care, which includes birth control, STI screenings, and abortion care, without interference from politicians, who have no role in the exam room.

“At Planned Parenthood, we believe that reproductive health care is health care, and that health care is a human right. For too long, anti-choice groups and politicians have tried to restrict people’s access to abortion using restrictions that have no basis in medicine and science, and that are designed solely to shame and coerce women. Decisions about a pregnancy — whether to have an abortion, choose adoption, or parent a child — need to stay between a woman, her family, and her doctor. No one can make that decision for someone else.

Just this week, new polling from PerryUndem shows the vast majority of Americans support maintaining and expanding access to sexual and reproductive health care, including safe, legal abortion. The non-partisan research firm found that “support for abortion rights is as high as we have seen in many years” and that “voters prefer that state legislators…work to protect or expand access to abortion” rather than restrict it:

• “Support for abortion rights is as high as we have seen in many years: 73% of respondents say they do not want Roe v. Wade overturned, and 67% think abortion should be legal in all or most cases. “
• “Most respondents prefer that lawmakers stay out of the issue rather than pass new laws restricting access. Any single measure on abortion can produce incomplete or inaccurate results. We examined a polling question used by Knights of Columbus that suggests majorities of Americans want “substantial restrictions on abortion.” When exploring further, we find that the reverse is likely more accurate - a majority of voters (68%) do not want substantial restrictions.”
• “By a 2-to-1 margin (63% to 32%), voters prefer that state legislators who engage in these issues work to protect or expand access to abortion v. restrict it, and are almost twice as likely (45% to 24%) to vote for a state legislative candidate who supports abortion access.”
• “Majorities of voters (65 percent) think a trend to restrict access to abortion care is going in the wrong direction.”

Nearly one in four women in America will have an abortion by the age of 45. Planned Parenthood will continue to fight to ensure that abortion remains safe and legal in this country because we believe deeply in the right of all people — no matter who they are, where they live, or what they earn — to make their own personal decisions about their bodies, their families, and their paths in life without political interference.
 

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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.